"Be self­controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) There's a war going on all around us and sadly, most of the world is ignoring it! .. Social and moral balance has all but vanished and yet, people are walking around in what seems to be a spiritual fog ­ choosing to accept these realities as 'normal' rather than dealing with what the obvious end result will be. .... For those of us who 'see' it, what should we be doing to combat it? ... I'm glad you asked ..... During my many conversations with various Christian leaders, the discussion of 'militancy' has come up innumerable times .. how it applied to our nation .. the nations of the world .. how the Church fits into this picture .. and how we as individuals and as collective societies view it. .. Needless to say, this debate took us to many points of thought. ...... As I have contemplated these conversations over the years, I've come to realize that in this word .. militancy .. lies the answer to the success or failure of our churches today. .. Most people, when they hear the word 'militant,' think immediately of war, or other aggressive situations, be it political, personal, and so on. .. I, myself, was a victim of this thinking for most of my life. .. But alas, I believe I've come to the understanding of what it truly should mean .. and yes! .. I'm still a complete 'militant' .. but now, in a much different way. Allow me to explain. .. First, let's go to the American College Dictionary and look up the meaning of the word 'militant' .. it says, "1) combative, aggressive: 2) engaged in warfare, warring: 3) one engaged in warfare or strife; a militant person; serving as a soldier." Now let's look away from the 'worldly' view of this definition and apply it to the Kingdom of God. .. 2 Corinthians 10:3­4 says, "For tho we live in the world, we DO NOT wage war as the world does. 4) The weapons we fight with are NOT the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to DEMOLISH strongholds." (NIV ­ emphasis mine) .. and one more .. Ephesians 6:12­13 states, "For our struggle is NOT against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. 13) Therefore put on the FULL ARMOR of GOD, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (NIV ­ emphasis mine). Now I want to use a Biblical example of the kind of warfare (militancy) that is being revealed to us in these following passages .. In the town of Gadara, there was a mass of tombs .. and dwelling amongst them was a man who was possessed by some 2000 unclean spirits. .. Can any of us even begin to imagine the torment this demon­possessed man endured? .. Scripture says he wailed and cried all through the night, ripping his clothes and cutting himself with stones. .. This poor soul lived as a wild beast, and there seemed to be no one who could help him. .. Plainly, satan had taken 'ownership' of this tormented man. .. In chapter 5 of the Book of Mark, we see where Jesus had just finished teaching in another town and was now heading to Gadara, where this demon­possessed man lived .. and unlike many other places, there as no waiting crowd. .. There would be no healings, and no teachings of parables. .. Simply, Christ's mission was to reach this one person .. the demoniac who lived amongst the tombs. .. In this Gospel, we see an amazing scene take place. .. Mark 5:2­7 says this, "When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3) This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, even with a chain. 4) For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5) Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6) When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of Him. 7) He shouted at the top of his voice, 'What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God you won't torture me.' Why did the demonic say this?.. It is because evil spirits are tormented when they encounter Christ! .. They know for a fact that they will be chained and bound for eternity. .. Then Jesus responded directly to the demons saying, ".. Come out of this man, you evil spirit." (vs 8) .. and the 2000 unclean spirits, who called themselves 'Legion,' responded immediately, left the demoniac and entered into a herd of pigs, which ran down the mountainside and jumped into the sea and drowned. (vs 9, 11­13). .. And then what happened? .. This poor tormented man, who just a few minutes earlier was crazed by evil spirits, now sat calmly at Jesus' feet .. in his right mind! Certainly this was an incredible miracle Jesus had just demonstrated .. but also it is a clear message to all of us that our Lord's authority has power over all and every kind of darkness, no matter how strong. .. And I believe there is even a bigger message here .. one that is for our church today. .. In the Book of Revelation, the Word clearly speaks of a 'flood of evil' that will come upon the earth in the last days .. the final days when the devil knows his time is short. .... There is no question in my mind that these ARE the days we are now living in. .. People from all walks of life are questioning what is going on all around us .. and it's no wonder! .. All are 'running to and fro ... " (Daniel 12:4). .. Any semblance of morality is on its last legs .. we have far surpassed the tragic example of 'Sodom & Gomorrah.' ...... So what is going on? .. Simply, it is the 'power of hell' at work. .. Satan and his hordes are doing all they can to put as many as possible into darkness. .. As the Church of Jesus Christ, we need and must be fully aware that we are witnessing satan's full­scale attack against God's people. .. Multitudes of souls live in 'tombs of self­destruction,' being harassed and tormented by evil spirits. .. Millions upon millions of hearts are crying out in torment just as you are reading these words .. and according to scripture, it is only going to get worse with each passing hour. ....... But when all seems hopeless .. when lawlessness seems unstoppable .. and when there seems to be no place left to turn, this is when many will begin to finally turn their faces to Jesus .. the One and Only One who can rescue them from their torment. ... So how will this all transpire? .. Simply, it is time for Christ's disciples .. His Church .. to get out of its 'lukewarm, pleasure­seeking, seeker­friendly' state .. and become militant by getting back to to the ministry described in Luke 9:1­2 where Jesus gave His disciples authority over satan's hordes .. "When Jesus had called the twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2) and He sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick." ....... I see nowhere in scripture where this authority or power over evil has been rescinded! .. The time has come for Christ's 'authentic' church to rise up and get back to the ministry of fighting the devil on all fronts. .. There is NO FEAR in the true followers of our Lord! If you are one who is caught up in the 'old ways' of complacency .. or just going through the motions .. then I strongly urge you to become 'spiritually militant' and start making a difference in the very short time we have left. .. Cries of despair are coming from all corners of our world and it's time for the true church to answer these cries. .. It is time to call on the Power of The Holy Spirit! ...... Finally, know this .. there are two worlds out there .. one of good and one of evil .. and in these last days, the warfare that has been waged for centuries will now only increase. .. In the true sense of the word, there is a 'war of the worlds' going on, and it is evident when we look around us that the current church of today is losing the battle. .. Why? .. Because we try and fight it with worldly methods .. ways that seem to be 'acceptable' to our culture. ... But the results have proven to be disastrous! .. So what then? .. Romans 12:2 says it very clearly, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (NIV) Remember this .. Jesus did not condemn the man at Gadara. .. He did not ask the man how he became so bound. .. There was no rebuke, not even a question. .. Instead, Jesus worked a wonderful miracle of deliverance for the tormented man. .. He showed the world how God has authority over EVERY power of darkness. .. And finally He passed it on to those of us who 'hear His calling.' ... Hallelujah! ....... Simply, IT IS TIME! Until next time, Red